Ball Toss and Catch, Body-Worn Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus, and more particularly is a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus, wherein the apparatus consists of a playing surface made of a resilient fabric or resilient webbing, which playing surface is integral with a left sleeve and a right sleeve worn on each of a user&#39;s forearms, and the playing surface extends between the sleeves. The apparatus can be used by the user for recreation, sports training, sport, physical fitness, or physical therapy. Using the apparatus of the present invention, the user or users can toss and catch a ball, disc, or other object, either alone, or between and among other users, with the aid of the apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/165,481, filed Mar. 24, 2021, titled “Ball Toss and Catch, Body-Worn Apparatus” and the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein and should be considered a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The field of the invention relates to a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus; wherein the apparatus comprises a resilient fabric or webbing worn on and extending between a user's forearms.

Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

Tossing and catching a ball or other device, such as a flying disc, either as a solo user, or with multi-users, is done for recreation and fitness. There are various apparatuses which aid with, or enhance, tossing and catching activities. Some apparatuses are worn on or held with a user's single hand, and some are held with both hands of the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,799 issued Jul. 14, 1987, by Coletti for Apparatus and Method for Propelling an Object discloses a propulsion device having a base to be secured towards its periphery at least three points to at least three fingers of a human hand. Whereby contracting the fingers toward each other forms a pocket in the base for receiving an object and the expansion of the fingers away from each other during the flexing of the hand moves the base to a taut position, whereby the object contained therein is propelled therefrom.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,618 issued Jul. 28, 1998, by Coleman et al. for Webbing Used for a Tossing Game between Players discloses a web slinger throw and catch game designed for easy throwing and catching for use indoors and/or outdoors by children of all ages. The web slinger comprises a netting material or any suitable material intertwined with flexible cords. It also comprises three or more balls with at least one ball attached to each corner of the material. A finger loop is attached to the center of the netting material so that a person can easily hook his/her finger(s) through the loop for easy throwing. This combination causes the web slinger, when thrown, to flare outward and sail through the air for an easy catch by another person.

U.S. Pat. No. D623,249 issued Sep. 7, 2010, by Nouri et al. for Device for Playing Ball Games discloses a design for a hand-held webbing device.

There is a need for a hand's free apparatus which can be used to aid with, or enhance, tossing and catching activities. The present invention provides a hand's free apparatus that is worn upon both arms of a user, and which apparatus can be used to aid with, or enhance, tossing and catching activities for recreation, fitness, and physical therapy.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus, and more particularly is a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus, wherein the apparatus consists of a playing surface made of a resilient fabric or webbing, which playing surface is integral with a left sleeve and a right sleeve worn on each of a user's forearms, and the playing surface extends between the sleeves. The apparatus can be used for recreation, sports training, sport, physical fitness, or physical therapy. Using the apparatus of the present invention, a user or users can toss and catch a ball, disc, or other object, either alone, or between and among other users, with the aid of the apparatus.

In a preferred embodiment, the ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus comprises a playing surface comprising a single piece of material having a playing surface topside and a playing surface underside, and being a width sufficient to span a distance between a user's forearms when the user's arms are at rest and extended along each side of the user's body; a left sleeve integral with a left side of the playing surface along a left sleeve seam; and a right sleeve integral with a right side of the playing surface along a right sleeve seam; wherein the playing surface extends between the left seam and the right seam; and wherein the sleeves of the apparatus have a sleeve thumbhole and extend from at least a user's wrists, along the length of the user's forearms, and to at least about the user's elbows. The material of the apparatus preferably is a resilient fabric or a resilient webbing. Preferably, the left sleeve and the right sleeve are each a single, continuous tube integral with the playing surface.

In an alternative embodiment, the left sleeve and the right sleeve are closed and fastened on forearms of a user by means of a left sleeve fastener and right sleeve fastener, respectively. The fastener may be any suitable fastener, such as hook and loop tape, zippers, hooks and eyes, buttons, or snaps.

A method of using a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus of the present invention comprising providing the apparatus; donning the apparatus upon forearms of a user; placing a ball upon a playing surface of the apparatus; using the playing surface to toss the ball away from the playing surface; using the playing surface to catch the ball upon the playing surface; and repeating as desired the steps of using the playing surface to launch the ball and using the playing surface to catch the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top side plan view of an apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom side plan view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is right side perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top side perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

2 apparatus

4 ball

6 right sleeve

8 left sleeve

10 right sleeve seam

12 left sleeve seam

14 right sleeve thumbhole

16 left sleeve thumbhole

18 playing surface topside

20 playing surface underside

22 right sleeve fastener

24 left sleeve fastener

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus, and more particularly is a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus, wherein the apparatus consists of a resilient fabric or webbing, or playing surface, worn on each of, and extending between, a user's forearms. The apparatus can be used for recreation, sports training, sport, physical fitness, or physical therapy, such as to improve hand and eye coordination. Using the apparatus of the present invention, a user or users can toss and catch a ball, disc, or other object, either alone, or between and among other users, with the aid of the apparatus.

The apparatus of the present invention is used for tossing and catching, or passing, a ball, disc, or other object, which can be done in lieu of using one's forearms as is done in playing volleyball. As disclosed herein, the terms ball, disc, or other object are referred to and defined as a ball. In use, the ball can be tossed, launched, propelled, or the like, and then in turn, the ball can be caught, ricocheted, rebounded, passed, or the like, by a user using the apparatus. As disclosed herein, any use of a ball with the apparatus of the present invention by a user is referred to and defined as toss and catch. The apparatus comprises sleeves worn on a user's forearms, either over the user's clothes, or on the bare skin of the user's forearms. The apparatus further comprises a playing surface integral with the sleeves, and which playing surface extends between the sleeves. The playing surface of the apparatus is preferably of a width sufficient to span the distance between the user's forearms when the user's arms are at rest, or hanging downward, and extended along each side of the user's body.

The apparatus of the invention is made with a material or fabric which is able to stretch and has resilient or elastic properties. Suitable fabrics can have a combination of polyester, spandex, elastane, cotton or other fibers, and which fabrics are comfortable to be worn by a user. Suitable fabrics also are capable of easily propelling and catching a ball when the apparatus is in use.

Preferably, the apparatus is one-size-fits-all and the fabric will adjust to the circumference of the user's forearms. Alternatively, the apparatus may be made in different sizes, such as small, medium, and large, to accommodate different users as needed.

Preferably, the sleeves of the apparatus extend from at least about the user's wrists, along the length of the user's forearms, and to at least about the user's elbows. Alternatively, the sleeve may extend past and over the user's elbow as may be preferred by the user. Alternatively, the sleeve may extend past the user's wrist and over the user's hand as may be preferred by the user. If the sleeve of the apparatus extends past the user's wrist, then preferably the sleeve will have a thumbhole to secure the sleeve of the apparatus on the user's hand. Additionally, the thumbhole will not allow the sleeves of the apparatus to slip from the desired position upon the user's forearms and will assist with keeping the playing surface of the apparatus extended along the user's forearms.

The ball to be used with the apparatus of the present invention preferably is between the size of about a racquetball, or about 57 mm in diameter, and the size of about a baseball, or from about 73 mm to about 75 mm in diameter. Preferably, the ball will have the properties of being soft, spongy, and bouncy, such as a ball made of rubber, foam, or a similar type of material. Examples of suitable balls for use with the apparatus of the present invention are tennis balls, a Moon Ball® brand hyper bouncing ball (available from maker Waboba®), and various Nerf® brand foam balls.

The apparatus of the present invention and the ball can be used to play a game as a single user, or a game with two or more users and involves either tossing and catching the ball for a single user, or, with multiple users, passing the ball back and forth between, or among, the users by using the playing surface to propel, or pass, the ball, and, in turn, to catch the ball. Play can be in a recreational setting for fun, such as to toss and catch the ball by a user, or to pass the ball back and forth with multiple users. Another use of the apparatus and the ball may involve a recreational or competitive game played over a net about the size of a tennis court net and using the dimensions of about a pickle ball court of about 20′ by about 44′. The game could also be set up to play on grass or sand, as could be done with a badminton net, or a volleyball net, and having playing court lines designated with a rope or a similar material that can be placed down on the ground to outline the court boundaries.

Along with uses for recreation, sports training, and competitive games, the apparatus and ball can also be used in a medical setting, whether in rehabilitation, or working with people with disabilities, to assist with eye and hand coordination skills. In such settings, a larger ball, about the size of a volleyball, or from about 20 cm to about 22 cm in diameter, can be used to enable more success to the user.

With reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus 2 of the present invention is body-worn by a user; wherein a user's right forearm is inserted in a right sleeve 6 and a user's left forearm is inserted in a left sleeve 8. In a preferred embodiment, the right sleeve 6 has an optional right sleeve thumbhole 14, and the left sleeve 8 has an optional left sleeve thumbhole 16. A playing surface topside 18 extends between and is integral with or attached to each of the right sleeve 6 along a right sleeve seam 10, and to the left sleeve 8 along a left sleeve seam 12.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the right sleeve 6 and the left sleeve 8 are each a single, continuous tube integral with the playing surface 18. Each of the right sleeve seam 10 and the left sleeve seam 12 may result from the sleeves 6, 8, being continuously woven with the playing surface 18 of apparatus 2. Alternatively, each of the right sleeve seam 10 and left sleeve seam 12 may result from each of the sleeves 6, 8, being a separate part, not continuously woven with, but rather attached to, or sewn to and assembled with the playing surface 18 of apparatus 2.

With reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in an alternative embodiment, each of the right sleeve 6 and the left sleeve 8 are not a single, continuous tube, but rather are closed and fastened on the forearms of the user by means of a right sleeve fastener 22 and left sleeve fastener 24, respectively. The fastener 22, 24 allows for size adjustment of the apparatus 2 on the forearms of the user. As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener 22, 24 is hook and loop tape, but may be any suitable fastener means such as a means selected from a group comprising hook and loop tape, zippers, hooks and eyes, buttons, snaps, and any other suitable fastener means.

Regardless of embodiment, as shown on FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, a playing surface extends between the right sleeve 6 and the left sleeve 8. A playing surface comprises a single piece of material or fabric having a playing surface topside 18 and a playing surface underside 20.

With reference to FIG. 4, in use, a ball 4 is placed initially upon a playing surface topside 18 of the apparatus 2. The user then uses the playing surface topside 18 to launch or toss the ball 4 away from the playing surface topside 18. In single user play, the user wears the apparatus 2, and the ball 4 is tossed and caught with the apparatus 2 by the user. In multiple user play of two or more users, each user wears an apparatus 2. As with single user play, the ball 4 is placed initially upon the playing surface topside 18, and the ball 4 is tossed with the apparatus 2 by a user to another user, and the ball 4 is caught by the other user, preferably with the playing surface topside 18 of apparatus 2. In turn, the ball 4 is tossed and caught between two users, or among multiple users, with the apparatus 2, in whatever manner the users want. Although perhaps more challenging, the ball 4 may be tossed and caught with the playing surface underside 20 of apparatus 2.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is understood that modifications and variations of the present invention are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. 

1. A ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus comprising: a playing surface; a left sleeve integral with a left side of the playing surface along a left sleeve seam; and a right sleeve integral with a right side of the playing surface along a right sleeve seam; wherein the playing surface extends between the left sleeve seam and the right sleeve seam.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the playing surface is of a width sufficient to span a distance between a user's forearms when the user's arms are at rest and extended along each side of the user's body.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the playing surface comprises a single piece of material having a playing surface topside and a playing surface underside.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of a resilient fabric and a resilient webbing.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeves of the apparatus extend from at least about a user's wrists, along the length of the user's forearms, and to at least about the user's elbows.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each sleeve further comprises a sleeve thumbhole.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left sleeve and the right sleeve are each a single, continuous tube integral with the playing surface.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left sleeve and the right sleeve are are closed and fastened on forearms of a user by means of a left sleeve fastener and right sleeve fastener, respectively.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop tape, zippers, hooks and eyes, buttons, and snaps.
 10. A ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus comprising: a playing surface comprising a single piece of material having a playing surface topside and a playing surface underside; a left sleeve integral with a left side of the playing surface along a left sleeve seam; and a right sleeve integral with a right side of the playing surface along a right sleeve seam; wherein the playing surface extends between the left sleeve seam and the right sleeve seam; and wherein the sleeves of the apparatus extend from at least a user's wrists, along the length of the user's forearms, and to at least about the user's elbows.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of a resilient fabric and a resilient webbing.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the playing surface is of a width sufficient to span a distance between a user's forearms when the user's arms are at rest and extended along each side of the user's body.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each sleeve further comprises a sleeve thumbhole.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the left sleeve and the right sleeve are each a single, continuous tube integral with the playing surface.
 15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the left sleeve and the right sleeve are closed and fastened on forearms of a user by means of a left sleeve fastener and right sleeve fastener, respectively.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop tape, zippers, hooks and eyes, buttons, and snaps.
 17. A ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus comprising: a playing surface comprising a single piece of material having a playing surface topside and a playing surface underside, and being a width sufficient to span a distance between a user's forearms when the user's arms are at rest and extended along each side of the user's body; a left sleeve integral with a left side of the playing surface along a left sleeve seam; and a right sleeve integral with a right side of the playing surface along a right sleeve seam; wherein the playing surface extends between the left sleeve seam and the right sleeve seam; and wherein the sleeves of the apparatus have a sleeve thumbhole and extend from at least about a user's wrists, along the length of the user's forearms, and to at least about the user's elbows.
 18. A method of using a ball toss and catch, body-worn apparatus comprising: providing an apparatus comprising a playing surface, a left sleeve integral with a left side of the playing surface along a left sleeve seam, and a right sleeve integral with a left side of the playing surface along a right sleeve seam, wherein the playing surface extends between the left seam and the right seam; donning the apparatus upon forearms of a user; placing a ball upon a playing surface of the apparatus; using the playing surface to toss the ball away from the playing surface; using the playing surface to catch the ball upon the playing surface; and repeating as desired the steps of using the playing surface to toss the ball and using the playing surface to catch the ball. 